Regularly referred to as the game within the game, and it is by far my favorite part of golf. Putting. I love doing it, I love practicing it, I love coaching it and above all I love learning more about it all the time. I also believe that putting is the easiest path to lowering your handicap.
At the elite end of the golfing spectrum there is a large amount of time spent by the pro’s honing this part of the game, and for good reason. The massive evolution of the technology that goes into putters themselves and the advances made with coaching technology and devices, sheds light on every little detail of their putting stroke. It does however always leave me totally confused to observe and learn how little time us amateurs spend honing the one shot that all golfers are guaranteed to hit often multiple times on every hole.
Here are some putting stats according to Shot Scope in a recent article posted on the MyGolfSpy website.
The 3-putt percentage for golfers with a handicap between 0 and 5 is 3- 4%. That percentage raises dramatically for golfers with a handicap between 20 and 25 to 14%. Furthermore, their data shows that the proximity to the hole after the first putt was struck from outside of 30 feet is 4.6 – 5.7 feet for handicappers 0-5 and 7.2 – 7.8 feet for 20-25 handicappers, leaving the latter group well within 3 putt territory.
My favourite drill for practicing distance control that will help eradicate those annoying 3 putts, is the simple 3,5- foot circle drill. Setting up a 3,5-foot circle around a hole with tees, the golfer proceeds to hit 3 putts from 20 foot, 3 putts from 25 foot, 3 putts from 30 foot and 3 putts from 35 foot. The golfer must make all three putts from 20 foot into the 3,5-foot circle around the hole before advancing to the next distance.
Failure to make all three putts from any given distance into the 3,5-foot circle leads to the golfer having to restart the drill.
Another more advanced drill that will turn lag putting into your golfing superpower and is excellent for feel development, is putting 5 balls from a specific point away from the hole, for example 20 foot, with the golfer’s eyes closed.
Immediately after each putt is struck the golfer comments out loud if the putt is short of the hole, or past the hole. This drill really engages and activates the feel of the putting stroke relative to the distance of the putt.
Breathing Awareness
Lastly, I would strongly advice all players working on their putting, to incorporate some awareness of their breathing. By slowing you breathing down and becoming aware of it, you allow your body and mind to connect, making it easier to have a good fluid tempo to your stroke, a characteristic of all good putters.
